Observations, comments, and gripes

IDIBRONCO

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This is not a thread to try to diagnose any issues with my truck. I know that I have a vacuum leak, hence the low numbers. there's too much info here for the "What did you do with your truck today" thread so I thought I'd start a new one. Thursday, after work, I took a shower and left for Colorado to meet some people and go camping and ATV riding. I got home about 9:30 last night (Sunday). The last mountain pass into the area was still closed due to snow, so I had to go through Gunnison to get to Taylor Park. This meant only one pass for me to go over-Monarch Pass at 11,312'. since, I'm still NA, there wasn't any complaints about three less passes.
1. I went over the same pass in 2012 with my Bronco. Yes, it was pulling a bigger trailer, but the overall load was about the same. In the Bronco, with a NA 6.9, headers, and 4.10 gears, I was in second gear by the top of the pass. My foot was almost to the floor, and I was only able to hit 20 MPH. With this truck, 1985 F250, 355 gears, NA 7.3, headers, ported heads, and armed with the knowledge of other members here on OBN, I was in third gear, doing 35-40 MPH. Between high RPMs, watching the pyro, watching for black smoke out of the exhaust, and being VERY easy on the throttle, I was able to keep the EGTs between 1000 and 1100. On the way back east,as I was nearing the top of the pass, I came up on a newer F150 pulling a camper. I ACTUALLY WASN'T THE SLOWEST ONE ON THE MOUNTAIN!:rock:I thought about passing it just for bragging rights, but decided not to since it was less than a half mile from the top and he pulled over there anyway.
2. Around home, my vacuum gauge reads 16". As I was going up the east side of Monarch Pass, I almost freaked out. My gauge was only reading 12" and that's HOT the place for a vacuum pump to go out. I kept going and the needle slowly eased down to 11". In Gunnison, it was back to 13" and stayed there until I started climbing the pass going back east. It dropped to 12" part way up and I was thinking ***? Then the light bulb came on over my head. Of course it was building less vacuum, there's less air to pull through the pump. I relaxed then and it reads back to 16" again, now that I'm home.
3. I will back Thewespaul up 100% on this one. Hot Shots Diesel Extreme is AWESOME!!! That stuff amazed me. It gave me so much power back after it worked through my fuel system that I wouldn't feel like I even need a turbo (if I hadn't just got back from Colorado). I'll continue using it for a looooong time.
4. As I was going down Monarch Pass, back to the east, I came up on a slow moving camper. When I finally could pass, it was being pulled by a cross over vehicle. HUH??? The camper was about twice as long as the car was! Then, a little farther down the pass, the same thing happened again. *** people? That's just stupid, dangerous, and completely uncalled for! Sure, it may have a ball hitch, but it doesn't mean that you can pull like a semi! USE SOME COMMON SENSE! Several miles farther down the road, well past the pass, I saw the smartest camper hauler of the whole trip. His camper was about the same size as those being pulled by the cars, but this one was being pulled by a crew cab, flat bed Dodge with a Cummins. I absolutely can't stand Dodge, but at least this person was using a proper towing rig.
Well that's about it for now. I look forward to your comments, agree or disagree.
 

chillman88

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Yep, came across a crossover pulling a 24ish foot camper. Felt pretty bad for that little car. All I could think is "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should".

My brother got mad at me because I wouldn't let him haul my 16' car trailer to move.... WITH MY PARENTS HYUNDAI SANTE FE! No I'm not letting you pull a 20' long 1500# trailer with a 12' long 2000# car. Especially not loaded with no brake controller.

Sorry for the rant. I've done my fair share of stupid stuff but some people amaze me.
 

IDIBRONCO

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Years ago, A guy was helping a mutual friend move from Kansas to Wyoming. He wanted to pull my 18' trailer with his S-10. I said NOPE in a hurry.
 

catbird7

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Last time I crossed monarch pass was back in 1990 in my 74 Chevy 3/4 ton 4 x 4 auto. It was such a pooch, I remember considering low range. Loaded logging trucks were passing me! There was a little gift shop on top. Not sure what it's like now however portions of the road did not have guardrail, spooky as hell! Sounds like you need a turbo on that bronco.
 

IDIBRONCO

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Last time I crossed monarch pass was back in 1990 in my 74 Chevy 3/4 ton 4 x 4 auto. It was such a pooch, I remember considering low range. Loaded logging trucks were passing me! There was a little gift shop on top. Not sure what it's like now however portions of the road did not have guardrail, spooky as hell! Sounds like you need a turbo on that bronco.
It's still about the same way. Gift shop at the top(I've never stopped in) and not much in the way of guardrails. I actually thought it was spookier driving farther to the east through the canyon west of Canon City. I will admit that I was going through the curves faster than the posted speed limit. I would have turboed the Bronco, but I ended up pulling the engine and transmission and getting rid of the rest. The same transmission is in my F250 that I took over the pass last weekend.
 

catbird7

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Awesome area! We hunted around Mt Sneffels, it's one of the 14'rs. Hunted that area 6 different years and always regretted not driving on down to Four Corners. We camped on Federal land near the Blue Lakes trail head. There's a huge rock on the right hand side of the parking area as you drive up, we camped there. Dennis Weaver (actor, played on Gunsmoke as well as many others), lived near and actually owned a bar / saloon in Ridg
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way at that time. Some "real" cowboys from the Double RL ranch (Ralph Lauren) would visit many of the hunter camps each year with a stern warning "don't cross no wire fellas", meaning do not trespass on private property which was often bounded by a single strand of wire. Beautiful area!
 

Dirtleg

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I went over Monarch pass a few years ago on this.
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It was May, I was freezing, and the gift shop literally locked their door as I was about to open it. That sucked.

The ride from there into Canon City was great however. Would do it again.
 

catbird7

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I went over Monarch pass a few years ago on this.
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It was May, I was freezing, and the gift shop literally locked their door as I was about to open it. That sucked.

Riding in those conditions! Looks like a good way to end up with frost on your saddle horn!
 

IDIBRONCO

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That particular ride started in Salt Lake City that morning. Pretty much an epic day.
Boy would that have been epic! The sport bike would be the best, but my sport bike days are numbered. I can't keep my knees bent that much for very long. I just have to get my Gold Wing going now.:Thumbs Up
 
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